With just about a week until the NBA regular season gets underway, the Phoenix Suns are still working hard on finding a new home for veteran forward Jae Crowder.
Looking at a diminished role for the upcoming season, as the Suns are looking to expand the playing time of Cam Johnson, Crowder requested a trade.
As a result, he has not been present at training camp as the sides work together on finding a trade partner. Multiple teams have emerged as potential landing spots, but as we inch closer to the regular season, nothing concrete has come together.
Crowder has reportedly been being shopped by the Suns going back to the 2022 NBA Draft in June. Playing on an expiring contract, Phoenix has had no qualms about looking to move the veteran forward as he doesn’t seem to be part of their long-term plans.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jae Crowder, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat & Atlanta Hawks Updates
Where could we end up seeing Crowder play this season? As shared by Jake Fischer over at Yahoo! Sports, the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks are the preferred landing spots for the veteran.
“Along with Miami, inquiring teams have been told Atlanta is Crowder’s other preferred landing spot. While the Hawks have made calls about injured wing Bogdan Bogdanovic, a potential framework of Crowder and Landry Shamet for Bogdanovic has made the rounds among front office personnel, although one source with knowledge of the situation claimed Shamet is not part of any active Suns conversations with Atlanta. The Hawks and Suns have had dialogue on Crowder throughout the summer.”
Miami would love to bring Crowder back into the fold as he was an integral part of the team’s run to the NBA Finals in the Orlando Bubble in 2020. With P.J. Tucker departing in free agency, the Heat have a massive hole at the starting power forward spot that Crowder could step right into.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jae Crowder, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat & Atlanta Hawks Updates
However, the compensation between the teams is tough to figure out. Duncan Robinson would almost assuredly have to be involved, but he isn’t someone the Suns are expected to have any interest in bringing on board. A third team could have to get involved, but that does not seem to be an issue when talking trade with the Hawks as the framework has been discussed.
Bogdan Bogdanovic would help provide the Suns’ bench with a massive boost. They are desperate for another shot creator, and he would fulfill that role, upgrading a second unit that was below average in multiple areas last season.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jae Crowder, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat & Atlanta Hawks Updates
This is something to keep an eye on as Crowder will eventually be traded, it is just a matter of when not if. Other suitors could emerge should he remain on the Suns’ roster into the regular season as an injury or slow start could adjust the game plan of teams around the league.
